A Stamford, Connecticut
talent agent who falsely promised to produce Justin Timberlake for a concert
in the Philippines will have to pay the concert promoter he duped.
Maria Venus Raj of the
Philippines was named 4th runner-up during the Miss Universe 2010 held August
24 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
A political activist called
for a national boycott of all Belo Medical Clinics, Flawless Clinics and
Belo beauty products following the much talked about cosmetic procedures
done on singing sensation Charice.
MANILA,
Philippines Filipino teenage singer Charice Pempengco says she prepared
for her debut on the hit TV show "Glee" by getting Botox and an anti-aging
procedure "to look fresh on camera."
Heres
another Filipino who surely has got talent: Luigi Seno. The
20-year-old Cebu native proved so when he performed on Americas
Got Talent in Chicago for the talent searchs final leg of auditions.
OTHER
THAN JIM PAREDES white hair, Danny Javiers puffy eyes and Boboy
Garrovillos paunch, nothing has changed to diminish the ageless quality
of an APO Hiking Society concert.
Had the
likes of Marian Rivera, Angel Locsin, Katrina Halili, Anne Curtis, Bea Alonzo,
Angelica Panganiban and Cristine Reyes been around in the mid-70s and
80s, they surely would be sex goddesses of the big screen. Then, when
Filipino movies were at their peak, launching nymphets to solo stardom was
in vogue.
CEBU,
Philippines - Planet Philippines, a 2009 documentary by GMA News
and Public Affairs hosted by actor Richard Gutierrez, nabbed the Bronze World
Medal for Environment and Ecology at the recently-concluded 2010 New York
Festivals Television and Film Awards.
MANILA,
Philippines Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco or more popularly
known as Filipino singing sensation Charice had her baptism and
confirmation Saturday morning along with her brother Carl at the Immaculate
Conception Cathedral in Pasig City.
A Stamford, Connecticut
talent agent who falsely promised to produce Justin Timberlake for a concert
in the Philippines will have to pay the concert promoter he duped.
Arnold Vegafria, president
of ALV Events International, paid Kofi Degraft-Johnson $437,500 for Timberlake
to appear at a a concert in Manila in 2008, but Timberlake never showed.
The megastar didn't appear, because it turned out Degraft-Johnson had no
authority to schedule JT for concerts or appearances.
Vegafria filed a lawsuit against
Degraft-Johnson in
Bridgeport federal court in March. Vegafria's attorney, Russell
Green, said his client spent a lot of money to promote the concert, and ended
up with a lot of disappointed and angry fans.
U.S. District Court Judge
Stefan Underhill on Friday ordered Degraft-Johnson to pay nearly $1.2 million
to Vegafria's company, ALV.
Degraft-Johnson, who hasn't
been charged criminally in the case, never responded to the federal
lawsuit.NBC
Arnold Vegafria, 40, is a
well-known concert promoter and talent agent in the Philippines. He handles
the careers of Jay-R, Ivy Villania, and many others.
Maria Venus Raj of the
Philippines was named 4th runner-up during the Miss Universe 2010 held August
24 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jimena Navarrete, 22, of Mexico
was crowned Miss Universe. This is the second time that Mexico took home
the crown; the first time was in 1991 when Lupita Jones won. Incidentally,
it was also in Las Vegas where Jones won her crown.
First runner-up was Yendi
Phillipps, 24, of Jamaica; second runner-up was Jesinta Campbell, 19, of
Australia; and third runner-up was Anna Poslavska, 23, of Ukraine.
Venus, 22, narrowly made it
into the Top 5 when she ranked fifth overall in the Long Gown competition
with an average score of 8.714. Mexico led with 8.913; followed by Jamaica
(8.884), Australia (8.841), and Ukraine (8.743).
The eliminated candidates
scored as follows: Albania (8.693), Ireland (8.548), South Africa (8.420),
Guatemala (8.286), and Puerto Rico (7.971).
The Top 10 who competed in
the Long Gown competition are: Ireland, Albania, Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico,
Ukraine, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Guatemala, and Australia.
In the Swimsuit Competition,
Venus ranked third with an average score 8.957 from the judges, behind Jamaica's
9.426 and Mexico's 9.265. This enabled Venus to enter the Top 10, along with
the candidates from Ireland (8.784), Australia (8.543), Puerto Rico (8.415),
Ukraine (8.333), South Africa (8.229), Albania (8.229), and Guatemala (8.071).
The eliminated candidates
scored as follows: Colombia (7.643), Russia (7.843), France (7.586), Belgium
(7.571), and Czech Republic (7.429).
The Top 15 who competed in
the Swimsuit competition are: Puerto Rico, Ukraine, Mexico, Belgium, Ireland,
South Africa, France, Australia, Jamaica, Russia, Albania, Colombia, Guatemala,
Czech Republic, and the Philippines.
In the question-and-answer
portion, Venus was asked by Hollywood actor William Baldwin (brother of 30
Rock's Alec Baldwin) what was the biggest mistake in her life and what did
she do to fix it. Venus answered, "You know what, sir, in my 22 years of
existence, I can say that there's nothing major major problem that I've done
in my life because I'm very confident with my family, with the love that
they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I'm here. Thank you, thank
you so much!"
The Philippines last won the
Miss Universe title way back in 1973 when Margie Moran took the title. But
the first Filipina to win the crown was Gloria Diaz in 1969.
Prior to Venus' fifth-place
finish, the last time the Philippines placed in the Miss Universe was in
1999 when Mirian Quiambao was named first runner-up.
Venus' road to Miss Universe was not an easy
one.
After winning as Bb.
Pilipinas-Universe on March 6, 2010, she was dethroned by the Binibining
Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) because of "inconsistencies in her birth
records." But the decision was reversed on April 10, 2010 and Venus, who
was born in Doha, Qatar, was reinstated as the country's representative to
the Miss Universe.
Three days before the Miss
Universe pageant, Venus lost a very close friend. Bb. Pilipinas-International
2009 Melody Gersbach was killed in a vehicular accident in Camarines Sur.
It was actually Melody who convinced Venus to join Binibining Pilipinas.
Venus, who hails from Bato,
Camarines Sur, is a veteran of beauty pageants. She first won the title Miss
Bicolandia in 1997. The following year, 2008, Venus was named Miss Earth
Philippines Eco-Tourism. This year, she won Bb. Pilipinas-Universe.
MANILA,
Philippines A political activist called for a national boycott of
all Belo Medical Clinics, Flawless Clinics and Belo beauty products following
the much talked about cosmetic procedures done on singing sensation Charice.
Laywer Argee Guevarra said
cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo should be denounced for doing thermage and Botox
procedures on the 18-year-old star.
All Filipinos should
be outraged at Belos medical irresponsibility after she recommended
a Thermage to Miss Charice Pempengco: that her naturally-round face is not
acceptable to the world. This is the height of Dr. Belos blatant insult
to the Filipinos who have been struggling to fight discrimination here and
abroad, Guevarra said.
Guevarra described the procedures
as medical quackery at its ugliest as he argued that there was
no need for Charice to undergo thermage and Botox.
He also slammed Belo for
purportedly having no sufficient training to perform and administer the
procedures.
Dr. Belo is neither
a duly-certified surgeon recognized by the Philippine College of
Surgeons nor a duly-certified member of the Philippine
Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Heck, Belo
is not even a member of the Philippine Dermatological Society. So, what business
is she pontificating on anything that has anything to do with plastic surgery
procedures? Guevarra said.
The lawyer said he is also
going to ask Congress to start an inquiry on how non-qualified and non-certified
medical practitioners can wantonly practice and promote themselves as cosmetic
surgeons.
This field of medical
practice must be appropriately regulated by the State either through remedial
legislation. I also call on the Philippine Regulations Commission through
the Board of Medicine to strictly enforce its Code of Ethics which Dr. Belo
flouts with utmost impunity, he added.
The botox injection done on
Charice was in preparation for her entry to the top-rating American show
Glee. The news generated strong reactions all over the world.
Many said Charice is too young to undergo cosmetic enhancement.
Charices camp has clarified
that the procedures were done to ease the singer from her muscle pain.
Guevarra is facing libel suits
from Belo. It stemmed from his Facebook shoutouts against the celebrity doctor.
'More circumspect'
In a statement, the Belo Medical
Group slammed the lawyer for issuing false and baseless statements.
It added that Guevarra should be more circumspect in making such defamatory
remarks.
The Belo Medical Group also
denied his accusations against the Belo companies.
The Belo companies,
including their doctors, strictly comply with all government-issued rules
and regulations. As an example of the falsity of Atty. Guevarras claims,
it only shows how ignorant he is to call botox a plastic surgery procedure,
when its just a non-invasive injection, it said in a statement.
It also listed Belos
affiliations with different organizations. It said Belo is a fellow of the
American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery,
the International Society of Cosmetic Laser Surgeons and the American Society
of Lipoplastic Surgery.
Being a lawyer, Atty.
Guevarra should know that if he has legitimate grievances, then he must air
them in the appropriate forum rather than in the media, it said.
The group said it will file
appropriate actions, including civil and criminal charges, against Guevarra
for disseminating these malicious lies against us.
MANILA,
Philippines Filipino teenage singer Charice Pempengco says she prepared
for her debut on the hit TV show "Glee" by getting Botox and an anti-aging
procedure "to look fresh on camera."
The 18-year-old Charice, whose
singing career rocketed after appearing on Ellen DeGeneres and Oprah
Winfreys talk shows, underwent a 30-minute Thermage skin-tightening
procedure and Botox to make her "naturally round face" more narrow, celebrity
cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo told ABS-CBN television.
Charice, in the same interview,
said last weeks face makeover was part of her big preparations for
her appearance on the hit shows second season. She starts filming at
the end of this month.
"All people will be anticipating
how will Charice look? Is she good enough to pit against Rachel Berry? So
of course there is tremendous pressure," Charice said. Berry is portrayed
by Lea Michele, who is 23.
In an earlier TV interview,
Charice said she auditioned for "Glee" in mid-June in Los Angeles and was
thankful to have been accepted.
"Its really a blessing,"
she said, adding she was "very proud to be an Asian, very proud to be Filipino."
On the streets of Manila on
Monday, some residents who follow Charice had mixed feelings about what she
did with her face.
"I think its OK for
women to have procedures done, but Charice is too young. Does she need it?"
said Patricia Carpio, a 21-year-old student.
For Myrna Lumanao, a 23-year-old
seller in a doughnut stall, looking natural is better. "I guess she can afford
to have those procedures done because she has the money, but I wish she did
not change her looks."
Dr. Malcolm Roth, president
of New Yorks Society of Plastic Surgeons and director of plastic surgery
at Maimonides Medical Center in New York said he wasnt sure how someone
so young could benefit from Botox.
"You would think that the
makeup people could take care of (any wrinkles she might have) or that they
could take care of it in post-production," he said.
But Roth said there might
be some benefits for on-camera teens in Hollywood. "Some people do have
hyper-active muscles and muscles are what create the wrinkles in certain
types of expressions. ... It may be of some benefit for the camera, but I
would be reticent to consider Botox for a normal 18-year-old."
Born Charmaine Clarice Relucio
Pempengco and raised with her brother by a single mother, she sang in local
contests and appeared on TV talent shows in the Philippines and South Korea
before she got a big break on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" at age 15.
She later appeared several
times on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and credits Winfrey for helping push her
career.
-----------------
Charice's botox procedure earns worldwide
backlash
by Mark Angelo Ching
Philippine Entertainmennt Portal, July 22, 2010
Proof of Charice's surging
popularity is the international backlash that the celebrated Pinay singer
received after she underwent a botox procedure last Saturday, July 17. Five
days later, the Internet is still abuzz with criticisms against Charice for
deciding go under the needle at such a young age.
Filipinos have kept close
watch on the 18-year-old Charice's rise to fame. She has guested in countless
foreign television shows, has had duets with acclaimed international singers,
and will soon star in the next season of the hit American television series
Glee.
That Charice is one of the
few Pinoys who has reached international success makes her kababayans protective.
Generally, Filipinos are prejudiced against any form of cosmetic surgery,
so the backlash against her botox procedure seems neverending.
The media was invited to witness
the botox procedure live, conducted by celebrity beauty doctor Vicki Belo
in her Tomas Morato clinic. In an interview after the procedure, Charice
said she had the procedure to prepare for her appearance in Glee. (CLICK
HERE to read related story.)
Not soon after, the foreign
media got wind of the story. Major news outlets in the United States, Australia,
Korea, and other countries immediately picked up the news and wrote about
it.
The feedback was mostly negative.
New York magazine, for instance, said on July 19 that the young would-be
Hollywood actress "missed" Glee's message.
The short post from New York
read, "Filipina singer Charice, dubbed by Oprah the 'Most Talented Girl in
the World,' is scheduled to appear on the upcoming season of Glee as a
foreign-exchange student and rival to Lea Michele's Rachel Berry. To prepare,
the 18-year-old has gotten Botox and an anti-aging procedure 'to look fresh
on camera.' A 'celebrity cosmetic surgeon' said the operation was intended
to make Charice's 'naturally round face' more narrow, all but forcing Glee
creator Ryan Murphy to rewrite Charice's episode to contain the message:
It's important to love and embrace one's naturally round face as it is."
Also on July 19, Hollywood's
"most-hated" blogger Perez Hilton also called Charice's decision "SICK!!!"
"And she's 18!!! Just a little
too young to start that shiz! Who the eff would do that to an effing teenager
in good conscience?!" Hilton, or Mario Lavandeira in real life, added.
TWITTER POSTS. On July 20,
news of Charice's botox procedure became the sixth most talked-about topic
on Twitter. Majority of the Twitter posts that culminated the ranking expressed
disappointment over Charice's decision.
Among them is the opinion
of former APO Hiking Society member Jim Paredes (@jimparedes), who tweeted
on July 20, "Kinda disturbed that charice is getting a face job. Don't go
changing to try and plea(s)e glee. We love you just the way you are."
More than 300 Twitter users
agreed with Jim's comment by re-posting it.
Other Twitter users have several
opinions. Today, July 22, Jeanne Peh (@jeanpeh) from Singapore tweeted,
":Sigh...the young n talented Charice juz got Botox to narrow her rounded
face."
Reny Suwarna (@yoreney) from
Indonesia also tweeted today, "somehow i never really like this charice girl.
and now to hear she had a botox done just cos she's gonna be on glee? blah.
silly girl."
Eula Schofield (@mizzuschief)
from Alaska in the United States tweeted today, "Charice should let her handlers
know what she's doing. Hopefully she won't get pulled out of Glee coz of
this botox fiasco!"
And, of course, Filipinos
know how to turn the issue into a joke. Twitter user @borjeous from Quezon
City tweeted today, "3 things i want noynoy to discuss at the SONA: storm
readiness, water shortage in metro manila & charice's use of botox: (for
or against?)"
BLAMING BELO. Many also blamed
Dra. Vicki Belo for applying the procedure on the 18-year-old girl.
Danielle Bleza (@daniesaur)
tweeted on July 21, "CHARICE: what Oprah spent years building, Vicki Belo
destroyed with a single botox procedure!"
Cesar de los Reyes (@Tito_Ces)
tweeted on the same day, "Poor Charice the botox issue caused her a lot of
unwanted brouhaha here and abroad but earned Belo better media mileage.Whose
idea was it?"
Similarly, Anwar Lidasan Malon
from Dubai tweeted on the same day, "Been reading and evaluating the commentaries
on the botox issue of charice..my verdict: BELO shud be blamed on!!! Boycot
BELO!!!!!!!"
DEFENSE. Defense for Charice's
decision also poured in. Hours after the start of the backlash, Charice's
rep in the U.S. told Us magazine that the point of the procedure was "to
relieve a jaw problem similar to TMJ [Temporomandibular Joint disorder]."
The rep told Us magazine,
"It did not hurt; it relieved the pain," Charice's rep tells Us. "You've
seen her faceshe doesn't have a wrinkle in it so she wouldn't need
it for cosmetic purposes. The Glee people are thrilled with the way she looks
which is why she got the part."
Charice's mother Mommy Racquel
(@Mommy Raqz) also tweeted in her daughter's defense. Since her Twitter account
is set to private, PEP cannot publish her comment.
ABS-CBN news anchor Karen
Davila (@Karen_Davila) posted a clarification on "botox" last Tuesday, July
20. "And guys, "botox" is not retoke, people have "botox" for their TMJ (jaw
disalignment), sweaty palms, sweaty armpits...marami! serious :)" she told
Twitter.
TV host and actress Phoemela
Barranda also tweeted that she had been undergoing the same procedure for
three years now. "Belo has been doing botox on my jaw to kill the muscles.
It relieves pain for people who has TMJ and makes my face smaller for TV."
GETTING SIDES. PEP sent questions
to Charice's camp to get their side on the backlash.
Grace Mendoza, Charice's local
rep, told PEP: "Wala muna kaming statement para hindi na lumaki [ang issue]."
PEP also tried to contact
Dra. Vicki Belo, but there is still no reply as of press time.
In a previous interview, Belo
told PEP the procedure was just corrective.
"Ang ginagawa lang kasi ni
Charice dito is facial. Pero napansin ko nga medyo lumalaki ang mukha niya
compared to her face three years ago, it's bigger now. And that's because
mahilig siyang mag-chew ng chewing gums. Yung chewing muscles natin dito
sa side [ng face], nagiging strong siya. Parang yung muscles natin na kunwari
gusto mong magpalaki ng katawan, mag-workout ka. So, parang ganun ang nangyayari.
Ang remedy doon is to botox the muscles so that it will relax and magiging
flat na siya. Kaya liliit ang mukha niya," she said.
PEP is open to statements
from any of the camps mentioned in this article, should they decide to air
their side in the future.
Heres an
official statement (in the vernacular) from ABS-CBN, sent to
Funfare by Bong Osorio, head of the networks Corporate Communications:
Ang mga lumalabas na bali-balita tungkol kay Willie Revillame (photo) at
sa Wowowee ay mga espekulasyon, Nag-usap na ang ABS-CBN management at si
Willie kung ano ang options o mga posibleng gagawin pagkatapos ng kanyang
break. Wala pang napagkakasunduan ang ABS-CBN at si Willie. Kung mayroon
mang pagbabagong magaganap, itoy opisyal na ipapahayag ng ABS-CBN sa
takdang panahon. (Note: In television as in any competitive field, theres
a game called one-upmanship usually played with cards held close
to the chest and where players dont telegraph their punches. Funfare
might have a little surprise for Mr. Osorio but, to quote his
statement, ipapahayag lang yon sa takdang panahon.)
* * *
A Funfare reader wrote to
inquire if Lani Misaluchas show Voices at the Hilton in Las Vegas has
been cancelled.
We went to Las Vegas
over the July 4th weekend to see the much raved-about Voices, wrote
the reader who didnt give his/her name. We were surprised to
hear that the show was cancelled for one week and we ended up seeing Barry
Manilow who did an equally excellent show. What really happened?
To verify, I alerted
Funfares Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino
Reporter).
Lanis highly-acclaimed
Voices act at Las Vegas Hilton ended its run in June after she decided not
to renew her year-long contract with the shows producer, Giordano World
Entertainment, which directly negotiates with the Hilton, wrote Edmund
after he talked to Noli Bayot, Lanis husband who acts as her manager.
Shes now setting her sight on one of three major casino hotels
in the Las Vegas Strip that are offering their more sizeable theaters to
her.
According to Noli, he and
Lani opted not to sign up with Giordano after it fell short of meeting the
terms they laid out.
Lani didnt like
the terms being offered to her in the new contract, Noli said flatly.
Aside from the issue of wages, Lanis request to revamp the show
and give it a new packaging was turned down. It had been running for one
year kaya dapat lang na ma-improve or maiba naman. Lanis contract was
supposed to end in April but she continued performing until June while the
negotiation was going on. When we realized it was getting no where, we decided
to just give it up. But actually, naka-hang pa rin ang negotiation kung tutuusin.
But Giordano and Hilton have given us the clearance to move to other
venues.
Noli would not identify the
casinos that are trying to lure Lani other than saying theyre all much
bigger than the Hilton.
Baka ma-preempt kaya
huwag na muna sabihin, Edmund quoted Noli as saying.
But if and when she moves
to another casino hotel, it will be a whole new show Noli describes as
high tech. He declined to give details, saying the concept of
Lanis next Vegas act will remain a secret until everything is
finalized.
If an agreement is reached,
the new show will take months to create because of its high-tech concept,
he explained. Lani started with Ballys, then Flamingo, then Hilton.
The next casino will be her fourth, kaya sanay na rin kami to move from one
venue to another and this is not something unusual in this kind of
business.
While negotiating for her
next regular Vegas gig where Lani is known as the Siren of the Strip,
who constantly draws rave reviews and praises from both the critics and casino
guests and tourists Lani will have her hands full with an upcoming
concert tour in several key cities in the US and Canada, as well as the
Philippines.
The seven-month tour is set
to begin end of July in Arizona, followed by California and Hawaii first
week of August, and so on. The act will be brought to select cities in the
Philippines by January and February 2011 in a Crossover tour,
according to Noli.
In the middle of the US-Canada
tour, around October, Lani will be joined by Vice Ganda, one of todays
hottest comedians and performers in the Philippines.
Said Edmund who is up-to-date
on showbiz goings-on in the Philippines, Like Lani, Vice is also a
certified crowd drawer having been able to fill the Araneta Coliseum recently
in a sold-out show.
Meanwhile, added Edmund, Lani
has just signed up to host later this year a weekly talk show for V Asian
TV, a television portal for global Asians which showcases pop culture and
music. [V in V Asian TV stands for Vegas.]
The show will be aired worldwide
on IPTV and will be carried by a local network and a cable channel. Noli
said that Lani is committed to do 13 weeks of initial episodes that will
feature notable Vegas personalities, from stage performers to famous chefs
and magicians.
Shooting for the said talk
show will begin later this year in between Lanis US-Canada tour.
This will definitely
be a busy year for Lani, as negotiations for her next Vegas gig continue,
assured Noli.
And that, ladies and gentlemen,
is the real score about Lani Misalucha.
(Note: At presstime, Funfare
learned that Lani and Noli flew in a few days ago to perform at the birthday
celebration of PLDT/TV5 big boss Manny V. Pangilinan. In tomorrows
(July 18) awards night for the 2010 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival,
starting at 7 p.m., at the CCP Main Theater, Lani is among the performers,
together with Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Avanzado and Christian Bautista with
the Ballet Philippines and Tanghalang Pilipino. The theme of the event, directed
by GB Sampedro and hosted by Cogie Domingo and Iza Calzado, is The World
is Looking at Us.)
Heres
another Filipino who surely has got [the] talent: Luigi Seno.
The 20-year-old Cebu native
proved so when he performed on Americas Got Talent in Chicago
on Wednesday, June 30, for the talent searchs final leg of auditions.
Looking like a shy, young kid when he walked on stage, Luigi
transcended the impression with his laid-back but mesmerizing version of
Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning" done ala-American Idol finalist Andrew
Garcia.
The ladies love him!
exclaimed show host Nick Cannon to Luigis proud yet nervous parents
backstage.
Even the judges were all praises
for the guitar-totting musician after his much-applauded performance.
You are truly a great
entertainer and if you had an album out right now I would be listening to
you in my car, said Howie Mandel.
Sharon Osbourne, on the other
hand, commended Luigis cool, relaxed style -- "fantastic,
she said-- while Piers Morgan believes the Pinoy's charm could be his ticket
to a promising career ahead.
Its not just that
you are a good guitar player, although youre a very comfortable singer
and a good singer. Its the fact that youve got this charm about
you, which I think is gonna go a long way, Piers said.
As expected, each of the three
judges gave him two thumbs up.
It was only eight years ago
when Luigi and his family moved from Guizo, Mandaue in Cebu to Highland,
California to chase the American Dream, according to his website
www.luigiseno.com.
They brought me here
to get a better life because it was really tough back in the Philippines,
he confessed during his audition interview.
Music runs in Luigis
blood. His mother is a music director and church pianist, and his sister
Mary sings, too [whose covers he has uploaded on his site]. According to
his formspring account, Luigi only began singing and playing the guitar two
years ago.
Apart from being a Music major
at San Bernardino Valley College, Luigi currently works part-time at a shipping
company.
Unlike many contestants who
join competitions in chase of self-serving dreams, Luigi tried his luck on
AGT because he wants to give back to his family.
Its for my family
in the Philippines whom I havent seen in a while. Its been eight
years, said the young Cebuano when Nick asked what the opportunity
meant to him.
Luigis wish may simply
be to reconnect with his Filipino relatives, but Howie predicts that destiny
has something more in store for the young crooner.
Filipina international singing
sensation Charice will join the cast of the US musical series "Glee" next
season.
Charice announced so via her
Twitter account on June 22. It's official. I'm on Glee (next
season) read her post.
The singer clarified, though,
that when d rumor came out, it wasn't true. But then after that, I
tried to audition. And I made it!!! Let's Party!!!!
Charice, according to
Entertainment Weekly, will play the role of a foreign exchange student who
will get in the nerves of New Directions lead star, Rachel Berry (Lea
Michele).
Recall that the
Pyramid singer got into controversy about a month ago after another
local publication reported that Grace Mendoza, Charices Philippine
manager, confirmed that her ward will be joining the second season of
Glee.
The petite belter denied the
report as soon as it came out.
I just want to let you
all know that it's not true that I'm going to be on Glee... How I wish!
Haha, she tweeted on May 26. Her mother, Racquel, as well as her US
manager Marc Johnston, backed Charices statement.
However, her publicist Liz
Rozenberg did not completely deny the buzz. Instead, Rosenberg intimated
in an interview on one of Charices fan sites that she might be on
Glee, but not at this time.
Charices Glee
casting rumor fanned out when the 18-year old international star excitedly
hinted during her Manila album launch on May 23 that she has a big
surprise for her fans.
Meron akong big surprise.
Pero hindi ko muna sasabihin ngayon. Im sure matutuwa kayo. A lot of
people are talking about this thing. Very, very happy ako na naging part
ako ng ng eto, were her exact words.
She eventually dropped the
bomb by saying that her surprise pertains to a show.
Glee has won numerous
awards, including Best Television Series Musical or Comedy
at the Golden Globe Awards, Gay Peoples Choice Awards, Peoples
Choice Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards, to name a few.
Its first season attracted
six to 13 million viewers when it aired from May 2009 to June 2010. The season
finale garnered nearly 11 million viewers, making it the highest-rated
season-ender for all freshman series, according to Entertainment Weekly.
-------------------------
It's confirmed! Charice will be part of
Glee cast
by Jojo Gabinete
Philippine Entertainment Portal, June 22, 2010
Kinumpirma ng Pinay international
singing sensation na si Charice sa kanyang Twitter account na kasali na siya
sa cast ng Glee, pero pinanindigan niya na tsismis lamang ang naunang balita
na kumalat noong nakaraang buwan.
Ang website ng Entertainment
Weekly ang unang naglabas kaninang madaling-araw (June 21, 1:44 p.m. sa U.S.)
ng balita tungkol sa pagsali ni Charice sa cast ng sikat na musical-comedy
show sa buong mundo.
Sa report ni Michael Ausiello
ng Entertainment Weekly, isang foreign exchange student mula sa Pilipinas
na may "killer voice" ang gagampanan ni Charice sa Glee. Siya ang magiging
mahigpit na karibal ni Rachel, ang role na ginagampanan ni Lea Michele.
Ayon kay Ausiello, "When that
rumor began to spread earlier this month via her loose-lipped manager, Charice
herself shot it down via Twitter. 'I just want to let you all know, that
it's not true that I'm going to be on Glee,'" she said.
"Well, it's true now! Sources
confirm to me exclusively that the international pop star is signed, sealed,
and delivered to recur next season as a foreign exchange student whose killer
vocals get Rachel (Lea Michele) contemplating murder."
Last month, nalagay sa alanganing
sitwasyon ang manager ni Charice sa Pilipinas na si Grace Mendoza dahil naglabas
ito ng kumpirmasyon na magiging bahagi ng Glee ang kanyang alaga.
Sinabi ni Mendoza sa isang
newspaper interview na, "Yes, it's true, Charice will soon join Glee. And
not just as a guest, but as part of the cast in a new season."
Ang pahayag ni Mendoza ang
muntik nang maging dahilan ng pagkakasira nila ng ina ni Charice.
Lumalabas na totoo ang sinabi
ni Mendoza, pero hindi nagustuhan ni Marc Johnston, U.S. handler ni Charice,
ang kanyang ginawa dahil na-preempt niya ang official announcement ng mga
producer ng Glee, ang 2010 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series
Musical or Comedy.
OTHER
THAN JIM PAREDES white hair, Danny Javiers puffy eyes and Boboy
Garrovillos paunch, nothing has changed to diminish the ageless quality
of an APO Hiking Society concert. That is, even if the Las Vegas-style
choreography and uniform costumes made the guys look stiff at times.
But as the group winded down
its series of farewell shows with a three-night stand at the Music Museum
last weekend, the music brought not so much nostalgia, but a rediscovery
of its finest elements.
The APO soundwhich had
been one of the hallmarks of 70s and 80s OPMconnected instantly
with listeners because it brought a refreshing Pinoy sensibility while borrowing
freely from Western sources.
Early in Thursdays show,
Blue Jeans, the theme from a 1981 Regal movie, didnt lose
its relevance while breezing through a 50s rock n roll
tempo, the lyrics echoing many a college kids frustration:
Pagkatapos ng iyong paghihirap/Di ka rin makakahanap ng
trabaho.
Another song,
Panalangin, fused spirituality and romantic desire with a
gospel-R&B vibe, before letting loose in a jazzy vamp.
Perhaps the most brilliant
of these musical marriages is Lumang Tugtugin, an engaging romp
featuring Pinoy folk tunes dancing on a ska-reggae beat.
The gig, while tightly scripted,
came off very spontaneous, a legendary APO traitits propensity for
irreverent, off-the-cuff humor. Garrovillo had one of the trios countless
punch lines: Youre paying so much money to see us go.
The jokes, gags and spiels
segued into sets of songs representing themes and chapters in APOs
four-decade career.
Javier, lead vocalist and
writer of many APO hits, was in fine form, improvising with jazz phrases
in When I Met You, and inviting empathy in Tuyo Nang
Damdaminwhich he prefaced by talking a bit about his two failed
marriages.
Though Paredes voice
quivered and sounded flat on a few lines in his own composition,
Nakapagtataka, there was much to admire in his energy and enthusiasm
all night. His songwriting talent was highlighted in the poignant
Batang-Bata Ka Pa, which he said he wrote for his eldest daughter.
Not to be outdone, Garrovillo,
who often played the smart aleck during spiels, had his own song,
Paano, given proper recognition by Javier.
Those who watched APO for
the first timerecognizable because they were asked by the group to
raise their handswere delighted as the show ran for about three hours.
Mixed age group
Noticeable was the mixed age
group of the crowd, signifying that APOs music has cut across different
generationsjust as the bands members that night comprised both
veteran (drummer Boyet Pigao, bassist Colby de la Calzada) and relatively
younger musicians (guitarist Noel Santiago, and keyboardists JV Villanueva
and Ernie Baladiao).
It was a great night to
experience, in an intimate setting, superior entertainment that bore insights
on growing up, falling in love, and living life with a playful mind.
Just as we remembered friends
who learned to play guitar from the easy chords of Pumapatak Ang
Ulan, we realized that APO is an enduring youth symbolthe barkada
who proved that Pinoy pop can be cool.
Three cheers for these guys
who keenly captured hip language, whether about loving a two-timer
(Tumawag ka mamaya nanditong syota ko ) or making
love without the mush (Kung gusto mo ay magsigarilyo muna ).
The show may be over, but
the songs will always keep us company.
Had
the likes of Marian Rivera, Angel Locsin, Katrina Halili, Anne Curtis, Bea
Alonzo, Angelica Panganiban and Cristine Reyes been around in the mid-70s
and 80s, they surely would be sex goddesses of the big screen. Then,
when Filipino movies were at their peak, launching nymphets to solo stardom
was in vogue.
Think of the sexy stars producer
Jesse Ejercito built up.
Alma Moreno in Ligaw na Bulaklak,
Lorna Tolentino in Dulce Amor, Ina, Elizabeth Oropesa in Mister Mo, Lover
Boy Ko, Chanda Romero in Sa Kagubatan ng Lungsod, Daria Ramirez in Lord,
Give Me a Lover, Beth Bautista in Huwag, Bayaw and Amy Austria in Tondo Girl.
Actually, some of those stars
were no longer nymphets when they were launched to stardom. But just the
same they were packaged as young and desirable. Yes, nymphets.
Except for Alma, Papa
Jessies Belles as they were billed became award-winning
actresses. But it must be said that Almas acting had improved considerably
through the years. Alma is now a Parañaque councilor (who ran for
reelection at the May 10 election), married to a mayor from the South, a
Muslim.
In 1974, Gloria Diaz (1969
Miss Universe) belatedly entered the movies via Celso Ad. Castillos
Ang Pinakamagandang Hayop sa Balat ng Lupa which started the wet look. After
her, every nymphet in movietown had to do a wet scene by the sea or
river, batalan, shower room, artesian well. Every place imaginable.
Like Papa Jessies Belles,
Gloria turned into a fine actress, winning several trophies, the last for
Sagrada Familia.
Mother Lily Monteverde had
her share of build-up stars going the sexy route, wearing her fabled magic
kamison.
They included Gina Alajar
in Diborsyada, Rio Locsin in Disgrasyada, Cherie Gil in Problem Child, Dina
Bonnevie in Katorse, Snooky Serna in Bata Pa Si Sabel and Kristine Garcia
in Exploitation.
Yes, the great Gina Alajar
wore Mother Lilys magic kamison. This was in
the early 80s when she was already a young wife
to Michael de Mesa and mother to Ryan Eigenman.
Of course, there were male
sex symbols and matinee idols paired with those nymphets and sex goddesses.
Think of George Estregan,
Ricky Belmonte, Ernie Garcia, Vic Vargas, Jimi Melendez, Alfie Anido, Gabby
Concepcion, Albert Martinez, Al Tantay and Orestes Ojeda.
Elwood Perez and the late
Joey Gosiengfiao directed most of Mother Lilys movies produced under
the Regal banner.
During the 90s, Filipino
movies started to decline. Producers no longer gambled on so-called launching
films topbilled by nymphets.
And so these days, such
desirable ladies as Marian, Angel, Katrina, Anne, Bea, Angelica and Cristine
are cast in melodrama andromantic comedies, in which the sexiest they can
go is wear bikinis and engage in kissing scenes with their leading men.
In terms of skin exposure
the most daring and baring is Anne, while Angelica is game in
passionate love scenes. But only up to a point as producers (usually Star
Cinema and GMA Films) wont allow their pictures to be classified For
Adults Only. Adult films cant be shown in SM, the biggest theater
chain in the country.
Surely, they cant afford
to lose SM theaters.
Of course, Marian, Angel and
company are seen on primetime television which took over the popularity of
movies.
One cant help remembering
with fondness sex goddesses of yesteryear.
Singer Joey Albert has been
living in Canada for the past 15 years but she still has her home country
close to heart. In the recent launch of her new CD Songs of the
Heart at the Executive Hotel in Coquitlam, Albert proudly shared how
she voted in this years Overseas Absentee Voting despite being busy
with the local release of her CD. Albert cast her ballot the same day she
had her CD launching.
Im so far away
but this is how much I love my country so please naman, sana magtulungan
nalang tayo, said Albert. Albert also had this wish for the
countrys next president.
I just wish that everybody
supports him, not just the people but the rest of the politicians. Tama na,
as weve seen it hasnt done anything good, this partisan mentality,
enough already, shared the singer. Albert performed to a full-house
at the hotels lounge where she sang songs from her latest collection.
This is the first time that Albert is launching a CD in Canada after migrating
with her family in 1995. Albert says it is also the first time that shes
using other artists songs in her album.
I really took a long
time deciding, but the lineup was very beautiful. Theyre OPM songs
from the 90s which I never really had the chance to appreciate, but
now I do. So even after I left, there were so many OPM songs that were just
as beautiful, said Albert.
The album, produced by Viva
Records, features 14 songs. This includes Forevermore (Side A),
Kahit Kailan (South Border), The Way You Look At Me
(Christian Bautista), Muntik Na Kitang Minahal (The CompanY),
Kung Ako Na Lang Sana (Bituin Escalante, Youll Be
Safe Here (Rico Blanco), Saan Ka Na Kaya Ngayon (Anna Fegi),
Minsan Pa, Stay, Kahit Isang Saglit,
Nasaan Ka Man (Martin Nievera), Rainbow, I
Believe In Dreams (Janno Gibbs), and Special Memory.
With the recent presidential
elections in the country, Albert also had this particular Song of the Heart
for the Philippines.
CEBU, Philippines -
Planet Philippines, a 2009 documentary by GMA News and Public
Affairs hosted by actor Richard Gutierrez, nabbed the Bronze World Medal
for Environment and Ecology at the recently-concluded 2010 New York Festivals
Television and Film Awards.
The actor and environment
advocate, along with "Planet Philippines" Program Manager Ella
Evangelista-Martelino, flew to New York to attend the ceremonies at the American
Airlines Theater in Manhattan.
It is my first time
to attend such a prestigious gathering of international journalists and artists,"
shares Richard. I am honored to be here.
Our film was not about
poverty or armed conflict or calamity. Instead it highlighted the uniqueness
and the wealth of our natural resources, says Ella Evangelista-Martelino.
We are grateful we got to show the world another side of the Philippines;
this recognition from peers from across the globe is but a sweet bonus.
More Than 30 Competing
Countries
Entries from more than 30
countries were reviewed by media professionals and critics. The NY
Festivals is the first and only international awards competition that uses
the internet in its judging process, says its festival director Rose
Anderson. It is the high quality of the entries which gives the competition
its value.
We were up against
tough competition from other countries. Some of the entries for our category
were obviously produced over a longer period of time, with bigger budgets,
says Martelino, who was part of this year's jury. A jury member abstains
from judging works from its own company.
"Planet Philippines" explored
some of the more unknown territories in the country, which is one of the
world's most biologically diverse locations, with almost half of its 15,000
species of flora and fauna considered endemic. Employing high-definition
cameras, the docu captured vivid colors and sounds of terrestrial and marine
life.
Hotspot and Megadiversity
Country
For this docu, Richard, who
is also a Greenpeace Philippines member, visited a number of Philippine
provinces, traveling from Isabela in Northern Luzon to Tarragona town, Davao
Oriental in Mindanao, and even diving with the rarely seen thresher sharks
off Malapascua Island in Cebu.
This is not the first time
that Richard has engaged in this kind of project, having had his previous
share of adventures and explorations after hosting environment-themed programs
like GMAs "Full Force Nature" and the networks first-ever documentary
on global warming, "Signos."
According to Conservation
International, "The [Philippines] is one of the few nations that is, in its
entirety, both a hotspot and a megadiversity country, placing it among the
top priority hotspots for global conservation."
Production was physically
challenging and the team took a lot of training and preparation. But the
footage we got was well worth every bruise and scratch, says executive
producer Angeli Guidaya-Atienza. The documentary proved that the
Philippines is an amazing piece of the planet.
Richard Gutierrez Wows Fans in Woodside
Queens, New York
Richard Gutierrez visited
his fans in the Queens, New York area at a very successful Meet and Greet
held in Woodside last May 4, 2010. Richard enthusiastically signed and took
pictures with each and every fan that attended the event. The night was ended
with a press conference that dealt with Richard's win of the Bronze Award
at the recently concluded NY Festivals TV and Film Awards for his environmental
documentary "Planet Philippines." He also announced that he will be hosting
the soon to premiere GMA Pinoy TV's "Survivor Philippines" and will be in
LA, California this month to shoot some scenes for a GMA Film project entitled
"In Your Eyes" with Claudine Barretto and Anne Curtis. Richard Gutierrez,
is one of the top stars of GMA Pinoy TV starring in successful TV Novelas
like Zorro, Captain Barbell, Full House and Mulawin.
Filipina actress Ria Mae
Flores co-stars in the new Sci-Fi thriller
Atlantis Down along with Hollywood star
Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder, Mississippi Burning,
Bone Collector, The 6th Day, Cliffhanger, JFK,
Jumper), Greg Travis (Starship Troopers,
Watchmen, Showgirls, Man on the Moon), and X-File star
Dean Haglund (X-Files, Spectres, The Lone Gunmen).
Flores was born in the
Philippines, moved to the US at eleven. She was the youngest recruit through
the Philippines Cultural Center in Manila studying dance and theater when
she was only 3 years old. Her life was dedicated to the performing arts,
so Flores made the move to L.A. two years ago. After countless auditions,
her breakthrough arrived in September. Director and Producer Max Bartoli
and Executive Producer Ethan Marten were casting their Sci-Fi feature film
Atlantis Down both in L.A. and on the East Coast. They were looking
for undiscovered talent. Flores name was floated past the two motion
picture executives. At their request, Flores had her West Coast audition,
and the digital files were sent East. The producers viewed Flores audition,
and liked what they saw.
We had been looking
for a talented Asian actress with a different look for months,
said Director/Producer Max Bartoli we were casting
in L.A., and Richmond, VA and all of a sudden this girl came out of nowhere
and amazed us. It was one of the best cold auditions Ive ever seen.
What really struck me were her acting instincts. Ethan and I looked at each
other knowing we had found the right person for our character.
She was a real
asset, says Executive Producer Marten. Rias gift
immediately broke through during auditions. She was fresh, energetic, and
real. Marten adds, Working with her has been an equal
pleasure. The demands of this production were not easy on our actors. Producing
a sci-fi is never easy, especially when you have to deal with a lot of special
effects, CGI and 14-hour shooting days. Ria was marvelous on camera and on
set. Bartoli and Marten agree, The Filipino community can be proud
of their soon-to-be breakout star. This star will shine brightly
for many years to come.Atlantis Down will be premiered
in August in L.A.
*******
Atlantis Down: Synopsis
2025 - the Shuttle has been
relegated to glorified taxi. On a routine mission shuttle Atlantis encounters
bursts of light shutting down its instrumentation leaving it adrift in space
with rookie Astronaut Travis Black. The rest of the crew find themselves
in the middle of a barren, desert wasteland. Crew members begin dying in
bizarre ways. Travis comes to realize that he has been chosen to compete
in some sort of galactic chess game.
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ It
looks like everything is coming up roses for Lianah Sta. Ana, 10, of Freehold
Township.
In February, Lianah, who had
been performing on stage for less than a year, was chosen to sing during
halftime at a New York Knicks basketball game on March 3 at Madison Square
Garden for the Kidz Bop Sports Jam Talent Search competition. She was also
looking forward to competing in an amateur night event at the famed Apollo
Theater in Harlem, N.Y., on April 14.
In true Lianah spirit, the
blooming star who won the first talent show she ever entered and several
more after that came through not once, but two more times when she
won first place at both New York venues.
[>>UPDATE!<<
Lianah won again at the Apollo on May 5, 2010 andfmoves on to the Top Dog
Round which will be held Sept. 1, Watch the video
here!]
Both wins were judged by audience
response and although everyone who participated was extremely talented, those
watching chose Lianah when they heard her sing Eric Carmens All
by Myself at Madison Square Garden and Theres a Winner
in You by Patti Labelle at the Apollo.
Coincidentally, the close
second runnerup in the Kidz Bop Talent Search was another girl who has a
lot in common with Lianah, Nina Waga Mojares.
Both girls live in Freehold
Township with their parents and a sibling, both earn excellent grades in
school and both are proud of their Filipino heritage. Both girls can also
sing up a storm and they happen to take music instruction at Music University,
Freehold Township.
Lianah is 10 and Nina is 11
and both young prodigies enjoy performing in front of large audiences and
have won many of the competitions they have entered. Nina has also won many
ballroom dancing competitions.
Despite the fact that they
were competing against each other, they bonded and got along like best friends
at Madison Square Garden, according to Lianahs mom, Nailah Sta. Ana.
She said Lianah and Nina are both winners. Each girl praised the others
talents as well.
As the Kidz Bop Sports Jam
Talent Search grand prize winner, Lianah will receive the Be a Kidz
Bop Kid for a Day package, which includes lunch with a Kidz Bop Kid,
a personal styling session with the Kidz Bop Kids designer and wardrobe
stylist (plus a one-of-a kind all-new rockin outfit), a
recording session in the Kidz Bop studio, and a meeting with the Kidz Bop
management team, plus a new Zune mobile device.
In addition, Lianahs
winning video is featured on the KIDZBOP.com Internet website.
After winning the Young
Stars of Tomorrow category at the Apollo, Lianah will have the opportunity
to return to that stage on May 5 to compete in the Apollos Show Off
competition.
When asked how she feels about
winning, Lianah said, It was really exciting. I mean when everybody
cheered for me I felt really happy. It was like, Wow, they think Im
good! Then when they announced my name I felt wow! It was just
so much to take in!
Her dad, Nathan Sta. Ana,
said, All in all, we are just so happy for her that she is having fun.
We have always told her that win or lose, take it in and move on. As long
as she is having fun that is what counts.
Lianah will also appear on
Spotlight with Della Crews on News 12 New Jersey (Cablevision
channel 12; Comcast channel 62) on Saturday, May 1 at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and
11:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 2 at 6 a.m., 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Lianah will represent the
United States as a member of Team USA in the 2010 World Championships of
Performing Arts in Hollywood, Calif., from July 17-25. Anyone who might be
interested in sponsoring her can email
nana795@verizon.net.